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The wait for perhaps the most anticipated game of all time, Grand Theft Auto 6, has spanned just over a decade. Its 2023 reveal convinced fans it would arrive sooner than expected — but multiple delays sapped plenty of the excitement.

After years of anticipation, GTA 6 is finally almost here, set to launch on November 19, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, with no delays in sight. Hype is rising again, and it's an exciting time for the gaming industry.

Unfortunately, the build-up to launch has recently been marred not only by Sony pioneering the end of physical game discs, but also by Rockstar's anti-consumer shenanigans during GTA 6's dull marketing campaign — starting with the announcement of no physical copy.

In case you missed it, an extended look at GTA 6 will be available on August 27, 2026, on Netflix as a 6-hour exclusive, before Rockstar releases it on YouTube (and presumably other platforms). In other words, if you want to see what Rockstar has to offer firsthand and at the earliest available opportunity, you'll need to pay for a Netflix subscription.

Now, I'm not a spokesperson for gamers, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who quite literally sees this as a way for Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive (its parent company) to kickstart paid trailers — and the reactions online are a very worrying indication of a potential new precedent.

Stop defending anti-consumer practices

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Here's the thing: you can still be excited about what is arguably the biggest game of all time, and still criticize a developer or publisher for justified reasons. I think it goes without saying that Rockstar's Netflix exclusivity deal is one of those reasons.

Locking a game trailer or gameplay showcase behind a paywall, even if it is just half an hour, is a massive red flag for any video game company, in my view. This is an unprecedented situation where fans are the ones paying to view marketing material, the same material that would previously be free to consume at the moment it was published.

My main concern comes from the reaction online; many gamers are effectively defending the exclusivity deal, with typical statements such as "you're only complaining because you're broke" or "it's not that big of a deal, it's just 6 hours".

Neither the price nor the amount of time of exclusivity matters, but rather, it's the principle and what foundation Rockstar and Netflix's move could mean for the future. It feels like Rockstar is testing the waters to see how consumers respond, and frankly, is taking advantage of gamers' fear of missing out and the desperation to see something new in GTA 6.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

There's absolutely no benefit to the timed exclusive being locked behind a paywall for consumers, and it's actually quite surprising to see many come to Rockstar's defense.

I can't help but feel like if this were any other game studio (i.e., Ubisoft) pulling this exact move, the uproar and backlash would be as loud as ever. I'm well aware that GTA 6 is a significantly bigger game than any in this generation, but that doesn't suddenly mean we should gloss over anti-consumer practices.

This same attitude of "it's not that expensive" or "stop moaning" was widespread when the video game price standard was raised to $70 — and now, edging closer to $80 thanks to Mario Kart World and GTA 6.

Long before that, services like Sony's PlayStation Plus and Microsoft's Xbox Live quickly became normalized, stripping away free online multiplayer access. Gamers overlooked that, likely due to the benefits of 'free' monthly games, and now there's no going back.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

That same concept is being applied here: if Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar, Netflix, and possibly other game publishers notice a massive influx of Netflix subscribers for GTA 6's extended look, there's a decent chance early access to game trailers will gradually become the new normal.

It will indirectly tell publishers that consumers are okay with paying for marketing material, out of pure excitement, which is to be expected for a game as big as GTA 6. Isn't that ugly?

This entire case explains why the gaming industry is in the state that it's in today. Gamers accept, or rather, minimize far too many anti-consumer practices by corporations before it's too late for them to backtrack, and we're seeing it unfold yet again.

I'm not saying gamers shouldn't buy GTA 6, even if you're against Rockstar not providing a game disc and protesting against Sony's decision. GTA 6 is the only game that I and many others won't skip out on, as the wait for the experience has been monumental, and that's okay.

However, that doesn't mean you can't still protest against the axing of true physical game copies and call out Netflix's timed exclusivity as a step too far, especially since the full experience of GTA 6 already costs $100 via the controversial ultimate edition.

Gamers need to realize that consumers hold the power overall, as banding together against unpopular practices can lead to change — but sadly, I think many fans will continue to look past Rockstar and Netflix's actions, simply because of their excitement, and that's a shame.

The wait for perhaps the most anticipated game of all time, Grand Theft Auto 6, has spanned just over a decade. Its 2023 reveal convinced fans it would arrive sooner than expected — but multiple delays sapped plenty of the excitement.

After years of anticipation, GTA 6 is finally almost here, set to launch on November 19, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, with no delays in sight. Hype is rising again, and it's an exciting time for the gaming industry.

Unfortunately, the build-up to launch has recently been marred not only by Sony pioneering the end of physical game discs, but also by Rockstar's anti-consumer shenanigans during GTA 6's dull marketing campaign — starting with the announcement of no physical copy.

In case you missed it, an extended look at GTA 6 will be available on August 27, 2026, on Netflix as a 6-hour exclusive, before Rockstar releases it on YouTube (and presumably other platforms). In other words, if you want to see what Rockstar has to offer firsthand and at the earliest available opportunity, you'll need to pay for a Netflix subscription.

Now, I'm not a spokesperson for gamers, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who quite literally sees this as a way for Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive (its parent company) to kickstart paid trailers — and the reactions online are a very worrying indication of a potential new precedent.

Stop defending anti-consumer practices

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Here's the thing: you can still be excited about what is arguably the biggest game of all time, and still criticize a developer or publisher for justified reasons. I think it goes without saying that Rockstar's Netflix exclusivity deal is one of those reasons.

Locking a game trailer or gameplay showcase behind a paywall, even if it is just half an hour, is a massive red flag for any video game company, in my view. This is an unprecedented situation where fans are the ones paying to view marketing material, the same material that would previously be free to consume at the moment it was published.

My main concern comes from the reaction online; many gamers are effectively defending the exclusivity deal, with typical statements such as "you're only complaining because you're broke" or "it's not that big of a deal, it's just 6 hours".

Neither the price nor the amount of time of exclusivity matters, but rather, it's the principle and what foundation Rockstar and Netflix's move could mean for the future. It feels like Rockstar is testing the waters to see how consumers respond, and frankly, is taking advantage of gamers' fear of missing out and the desperation to see something new in GTA 6.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

There's absolutely no benefit to the timed exclusive being locked behind a paywall for consumers, and it's actually quite surprising to see many come to Rockstar's defense.

I can't help but feel like if this were any other game studio (i.e., Ubisoft) pulling this exact move, the uproar and backlash would be as loud as ever. I'm well aware that GTA 6 is a significantly bigger game than any in this generation, but that doesn't suddenly mean we should gloss over anti-consumer practices.

This same attitude of "it's not that expensive" or "stop moaning" was widespread when the video game price standard was raised to $70 — and now, edging closer to $80 thanks to Mario Kart World and GTA 6.

Long before that, services like Sony's PlayStation Plus and Microsoft's Xbox Live quickly became normalized, stripping away free online multiplayer access. Gamers overlooked that, likely due to the benefits of 'free' monthly games, and now there's no going back.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

That same concept is being applied here: if Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar, Netflix, and possibly other game publishers notice a massive influx of Netflix subscribers for GTA 6's extended look, there's a decent chance early access to game trailers will gradually become the new normal.

It will indirectly tell publishers that consumers are okay with paying for marketing material, out of pure excitement, which is to be expected for a game as big as GTA 6. Isn't that ugly?

This entire case explains why the gaming industry is in the state that it's in today. Gamers accept, or rather, minimize far too many anti-consumer practices by corporations before it's too late for them to backtrack, and we're seeing it unfold yet again.

I'm not saying gamers shouldn't buy GTA 6, even if you're against Rockstar not providing a game disc and protesting against Sony's decision. GTA 6 is the only game that I and many others won't skip out on, as the wait for the experience has been monumental, and that's okay.

However, that doesn't mean you can't still protest against the axing of true physical game copies and call out Netflix's timed exclusivity as a step too far, especially since the full experience of GTA 6 already costs $100 via the controversial ultimate edition.

Gamers need to realize that consumers hold the power overall, as banding together against unpopular practices can lead to change — but sadly, I think many fans will continue to look past Rockstar and Netflix's actions, simply because of their excitement, and that's a shame.

ChatGPT has accumulated a surprisingly large collection of education tools, including Study Mode and new plugins designed specifically for college students and educators.

The trick is using them to learn rather than outsourcing the learning itself. OpenAI explicitly describes its approach as helping students understand material rather than simply shortcutting it, which is a useful rule to keep in mind before handing ChatGPT the first assignment of the semester.

Here are five ways I would set up ChatGPT before classes get properly underway.

1. Study Mode for all

(Image credit: OpenAI)

ChatGPT's aptly named Study Mode is the obvious place to start with using the AI for learning, and it doesn't even require a paid subscription. You simply start a normal conversation with ChatGPT and type @study, or click the + button and search for Study.

Once activated, Study Mode changes ChatGPT's responses from direct answers to more Socratic behavior. It asks questions, provides hints, and checks whether you understand each step before moving forward.

Try prompts like, "Teach me derivatives, asking one question at a time, and give me a hint when I'm stuck."

You can also upload a photo of a problem or, where file uploads are available, add your class notes and ask ChatGPT to work from those. For instance, you could upload what you wrote down in class and tell ChatGPT to "Use these notes to teach me today's lesson. Start by identifying and explaining concepts I need to understand, then quiz me before moving to the next."

Study Mode can work with uploaded files and images, making it much more useful when it knows what your actual class is covering rather than delivering a generic miniature lecture.

2. ChatGPT College Plugin

(Image credit: OpenAI)

A newer and more focused option is ChatGPT's College Student plugin. It's not universally available like Study Mode, only through ChatGPT Edu, so your university needs to offer it and make it available. Students who can access it get a collection of learning tools.

Of particular interest is its interactive learning site creation. You can share your course material to make interactive visual explanations, while also getting guided tutoring on concepts you find difficult. The AI can take uploaded lecture slides or notes and make a unique website full of study questions and able to provide feedback on your answers.

Depending on how confident you feel, you could ask ChatGPT for something as elaborate as, "Build me a study plan for the next two weeks using these course materials and my upcoming deadlines, and spend extra time on the topics I struggled with in the quiz."

3. Syllabus study

(Image credit: OpenAI)

My memory of student life is that the syllabus traditionally enjoys about 20 minutes of intense attention before beginning its long journey toward the bottom of a backpack. ChatGPT can make it considerably more useful. Upload the syllabus to ChatGPT, and it can have a much more productive lifespan.

I'd suggest a prompt like, "Read this syllabus and create a week-by-week study plan. Include every test, paper, and deadline. Suggest what I should begin preparing for at least a week ahead of time."

You can ask about the extra busy weeks and ideas on making them as easy as possible too. If you let ChatGPT send you alerts, you might avoid the end-of-semester crunch when every deadline hits at once and you still only have 24 hours a day to study.

4. Flashcards

(Image credit: OpenAI)

ChatGPT can also save you from spending an entire evening making flashcards instead of studying them. You can ask it to make flashcards from your notes, telling it to "Focus on particulalry confusing concepts and terms."

If you ask for one card at a time, it turns the exercise into an actual study session instead of generating another giant page of material to stare at, hopefully.

With the College Student plugin, flashcards can become part of the interactive learning experience rather than simply appearing as text in the conversation. You could ask: "Turn this week's lecture material into flashcards and organize them by topic."

5. Quiz time

(Image credit: Getty)

Quizzing you on whether you actually have learned anything from studying is vital, and ChatGPT can be a big help in that regard. With its Study Mode, you can create practice questions, quiz yourself one question at a time, get it to explain mistakes and change the difficulty as you progress.

Upload your course material and try asking for a "10-question practice quiz based only on these notes. Ask one question at a time, don't reveal the answer until I respond, explain anything I get wrong, and make the next question harder when I answer correctly."

The College Student plugin can turn that same process into a more structured interactive quiz built around the course sources you provide. You can ask for more complex practice exams, and set up interactive tests that analyze your weakest areas for further study and quizzing.

With or without the plug-in, having ChatGPT close the metaphorical book and start asking questions is a much faster way to discover whether anything actually stuck.

ChatGPT has accumulated a surprisingly large collection of education tools, including Study Mode and new plugins designed specifically for college students and educators.

The trick is using them to learn rather than outsourcing the learning itself. OpenAI explicitly describes its approach as helping students understand material rather than simply shortcutting it, which is a useful rule to keep in mind before handing ChatGPT the first assignment of the semester.

Here are five ways I would set up ChatGPT before classes get properly underway.

1. Study Mode for all

(Image credit: OpenAI)

ChatGPT's aptly named Study Mode is the obvious place to start with using the AI for learning, and it doesn't even require a paid subscription. You simply start a normal conversation with ChatGPT and type @study, or click the + button and search for Study.

Once activated, Study Mode changes ChatGPT's responses from direct answers to more Socratic behavior. It asks questions, provides hints, and checks whether you understand each step before moving forward.

Try prompts like, "Teach me derivatives, asking one question at a time, and give me a hint when I'm stuck."

You can also upload a photo of a problem or, where file uploads are available, add your class notes and ask ChatGPT to work from those. For instance, you could upload what you wrote down in class and tell ChatGPT to "Use these notes to teach me today's lesson. Start by identifying and explaining concepts I need to understand, then quiz me before moving to the next."

Study Mode can work with uploaded files and images, making it much more useful when it knows what your actual class is covering rather than delivering a generic miniature lecture.

2. ChatGPT College Plugin

(Image credit: OpenAI)

A newer and more focused option is ChatGPT's College Student plugin. It's not universally available like Study Mode, only through ChatGPT Edu, so your university needs to offer it and make it available. Students who can access it get a collection of learning tools.

Of particular interest is its interactive learning site creation. You can share your course material to make interactive visual explanations, while also getting guided tutoring on concepts you find difficult. The AI can take uploaded lecture slides or notes and make a unique website full of study questions and able to provide feedback on your answers.

Depending on how confident you feel, you could ask ChatGPT for something as elaborate as, "Build me a study plan for the next two weeks using these course materials and my upcoming deadlines, and spend extra time on the topics I struggled with in the quiz."

3. Syllabus study

(Image credit: OpenAI)

My memory of student life is that the syllabus traditionally enjoys about 20 minutes of intense attention before beginning its long journey toward the bottom of a backpack. ChatGPT can make it considerably more useful. Upload the syllabus to ChatGPT, and it can have a much more productive lifespan.

I'd suggest a prompt like, "Read this syllabus and create a week-by-week study plan. Include every test, paper, and deadline. Suggest what I should begin preparing for at least a week ahead of time."

You can ask about the extra busy weeks and ideas on making them as easy as possible too. If you let ChatGPT send you alerts, you might avoid the end-of-semester crunch when every deadline hits at once and you still only have 24 hours a day to study.

4. Flashcards

(Image credit: OpenAI)

ChatGPT can also save you from spending an entire evening making flashcards instead of studying them. You can ask it to make flashcards from your notes, telling it to "Focus on particulalry confusing concepts and terms."

If you ask for one card at a time, it turns the exercise into an actual study session instead of generating another giant page of material to stare at, hopefully.

With the College Student plugin, flashcards can become part of the interactive learning experience rather than simply appearing as text in the conversation. You could ask: "Turn this week's lecture material into flashcards and organize them by topic."

5. Quiz time

(Image credit: Getty)

Quizzing you on whether you actually have learned anything from studying is vital, and ChatGPT can be a big help in that regard. With its Study Mode, you can create practice questions, quiz yourself one question at a time, get it to explain mistakes and change the difficulty as you progress.

Upload your course material and try asking for a "10-question practice quiz based only on these notes. Ask one question at a time, don't reveal the answer until I respond, explain anything I get wrong, and make the next question harder when I answer correctly."

The College Student plugin can turn that same process into a more structured interactive quiz built around the course sources you provide. You can ask for more complex practice exams, and set up interactive tests that analyze your weakest areas for further study and quizzing.

With or without the plug-in, having ChatGPT close the metaphorical book and start asking questions is a much faster way to discover whether anything actually stuck.

Once upon a time, if you wanted a good ereader, you simply had to buy a Kindle. When it came to electronic reading devices, Amazon's Kindle lineup ruled the roost. Nowadays, the market has opened up, and Amazon has made a few moves that have done nothing to boost the general public's opinion of Kindles.

The latest Kindle update sparking complaints is the introduction of tougher DRM (digital rights management) rules and the closing of a book-borrowing loophole. Now, we're not sure this particular outrage is particularly justified — as TechRadar's Lance points out, "writers gotta get paid", and authors' ability to make money off their work should take priority, whatever annoyances it might throw up for individual readers.

Less easy to justify, however, is Amazon's April decision to end support for Kindles made in 2012 or earlier. That meant these perfectly usable devices would lose access to the Kindle Store and become completely defunct if you ever tried a factory reset. Overall, Kindles are starting to look a little less enticing to many people.

If you've decided it's time to embrace a different ereader brand, there are a number of great options open to you nowadays, with models from Kobo leading the charge, and Onyx Boox also coming up with some intriguing alternatives. I've rounded up our top-rated Kindle alternatives below — hit the 'More details' button to see the main pros and cons of each, and for a link to our full review.

Kindle alternatives

Kobo Libra Colour

Read our full review

Pros

• Good size for portability and usability
• Relatively affordable for a color ereader
• Full writing features
• Repair kits available

Cons

• Couple of functions suffer from lag
• Stylus sold separately

Kobo Clara BW

Read our full review

Pros

• New E Ink Carta 1300 screen
• Compact, lightweight and waterproof
• Affordable and repairable

Cons

• No cloud file transfer support
• Dated, plastic design
• 6-inch screen can be small for some

Kobo Clara Colour

Read our full review

Pros

• Responsive color display
• Compact and lightweight
• Good battery life
• Relatively affordable

Cons

• 6 inches can be too small for some users
• Black-and-white text lacks contrast

Kobo Libra 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Winning asymmetric design
• 32GB storage
• Audiobook support

Cons

• Battery charging can be erratic

Onyx Boox Go 7

Read our full review

Pros

• Android 13-based operating system
• Excellent E Ink Carta 1300 display
• 64GB storage
• Page-turn buttons
• Snappy performance
• Stylus support

Cons

• Lacks waterproofing
• Complicated menu system
• Excessive battery drain
• Subpar writing experience

Onyx Boox Palma 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Pocket-friendly color E Ink design
• More versatile than the Palma 2
• Excellent case accessory

Cons

• Expensive for an ereader
• Text isn’t as crisp as on the Palma 2
• Stylus sold separately

Onyx Boox Palma 2 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• Pocket-friendly color E Ink design
• More versatile than the Palma 2
• Excellent case accessory

Cons

• Expensive for an ereader
• Text isn’t as crisp as on the Palma 2
• Stylus sold separately

What's the best Kindle alternative?

The key rival nipping at Amazon's heels is Kobo. The Kobo Libra Colour is the best ereader we've tested, from any brand (including Amazon Kindle), and we also rate the Kobo Clara Colour highly. For those happy to stick with black and white, and looking for a budget-friendly option, the Kobo Clara BW is a winner.

Outside of Kobo, the Onyx Boox lineup is also worth checking out. Its e-ink tablets run on an Android OS, making them nice and versatile. The Boox Palma 2 and Palma 2 Pro are phone-sized ereaders that can be slipped into a pocket for reading on the go.

If you'd like an ereader that also supports note-taking, there are a few more brands worth considering. We're huge fans of the reMarkable Paper Pure, and we also rate the ViWoods AiPaper highly. I'm assuming reading is your main priority, so I haven't included these options here.

Once upon a time, if you wanted a good ereader, you simply had to buy a Kindle. When it came to electronic reading devices, Amazon's Kindle lineup ruled the roost. Nowadays, the market has opened up, and Amazon has made a few moves that have done nothing to boost the general public's opinion of Kindles.

The latest Kindle update sparking complaints is the introduction of tougher DRM (digital rights management) rules and the closing of a book-borrowing loophole. Now, we're not sure this particular outrage is particularly justified — as TechRadar's Lance points out, "writers gotta get paid", and authors' ability to make money off their work should take priority, whatever annoyances it might throw up for individual readers.

Less easy to justify, however, is Amazon's April decision to end support for Kindles made in 2012 or earlier. That meant these perfectly usable devices would lose access to the Kindle Store and become completely defunct if you ever tried a factory reset. Overall, Kindles are starting to look a little less enticing to many people.

If you've decided it's time to embrace a different ereader brand, there are a number of great options open to you nowadays, with models from Kobo leading the charge, and Onyx Boox also coming up with some intriguing alternatives. I've rounded up our top-rated Kindle alternatives below — hit the 'More details' button to see the main pros and cons of each, and for a link to our full review.

Kindle alternatives

Kobo Libra Colour

Read our full review

Pros

• Good size for portability and usability
• Relatively affordable for a color ereader
• Full writing features
• Repair kits available

Cons

• Couple of functions suffer from lag
• Stylus sold separately

Kobo Clara BW

Read our full review

Pros

• New E Ink Carta 1300 screen
• Compact, lightweight and waterproof
• Affordable and repairable

Cons

• No cloud file transfer support
• Dated, plastic design
• 6-inch screen can be small for some

Kobo Clara Colour

Read our full review

Pros

• Responsive color display
• Compact and lightweight
• Good battery life
• Relatively affordable

Cons

• 6 inches can be too small for some users
• Black-and-white text lacks contrast

Kobo Libra 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Winning asymmetric design
• 32GB storage
• Audiobook support

Cons

• Battery charging can be erratic

Onyx Boox Go 7

Read our full review

Pros

• Android 13-based operating system
• Excellent E Ink Carta 1300 display
• 64GB storage
• Page-turn buttons
• Snappy performance
• Stylus support

Cons

• Lacks waterproofing
• Complicated menu system
• Excessive battery drain
• Subpar writing experience

Onyx Boox Palma 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Pocket-friendly color E Ink design
• More versatile than the Palma 2
• Excellent case accessory

Cons

• Expensive for an ereader
• Text isn’t as crisp as on the Palma 2
• Stylus sold separately

Onyx Boox Palma 2 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• Pocket-friendly color E Ink design
• More versatile than the Palma 2
• Excellent case accessory

Cons

• Expensive for an ereader
• Text isn’t as crisp as on the Palma 2
• Stylus sold separately

What's the best Kindle alternative?

The key rival nipping at Amazon's heels is Kobo. The Kobo Libra Colour is the best ereader we've tested, from any brand (including Amazon Kindle), and we also rate the Kobo Clara Colour highly. For those happy to stick with black and white, and looking for a budget-friendly option, the Kobo Clara BW is a winner.

Outside of Kobo, the Onyx Boox lineup is also worth checking out. Its e-ink tablets run on an Android OS, making them nice and versatile. The Boox Palma 2 and Palma 2 Pro are phone-sized ereaders that can be slipped into a pocket for reading on the go.

If you'd like an ereader that also supports note-taking, there are a few more brands worth considering. We're huge fans of the reMarkable Paper Pure, and we also rate the ViWoods AiPaper highly. I'm assuming reading is your main priority, so I haven't included these options here.

At 15,500 miles per second, it’s the fastest planet or star ever observed by science, but its true value is how close it is to our galaxy’s supermassive black hole.

• Claude AI has the highest satisfaction score among current and former users with a net score of 56.2, ahead of Gemini at 46.5
• Grok and Siri languish at the bottom of the satisfaction ratings top 10
• The data was collected by YouGov in the period March 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026

A new YouGov survey has lifted the lid on how people feel about the AI tools and assistants they use, with Claude AI coming out on top with the highest satisfaction score. Anthropic’s AI has beaten OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Gemini into first place, but of interest are the tools that languish at the bottom of the table.

While Microsoft Copilot and Alexa hog the middle of the table, it is the reputation of Apple’s Siri assistant and Elon Musk’s Grok that are the most surprising, with respondents reporting that the tools did not satisfy.

Interestingly, Claude is also highly regarded among former users, which may indicate that competing tools (particularly those with a poorer reputation) have a lot of catching up to do in the public consciousness.

Everyone loves Claude

Collected over a five-month period, YouGov established two sets of data: the “Top 10 AI assistants by Satisfaction among current and former users” and “AI assistant Satisfaction: current vs. former users.”

Based on the “Top 10 AI assistants by Satisfaction among current and former users” Claude’s 56.2 score puts it markedly ahead of Gemini on 46.5, with ChatGPT a close third on 46.0. Grok and Siri are notable for their low positions, but Alexa (42.6) and Copilot (37.2) occupy a middle space that doesn’t quite seem to match with the size of the companies behind them.

However, one thing that the survey doesn’t tell us is how the Satisfaction metric might be affected by tools that are easy to find or use (for example, Siri or Alexa) versus AI tools that need to be sought out, such as ChatGPT or Claude.

AI tool reputations

YouGov’s data also explores the difference between the satisfaction of current users and former users in the “AI assistant Satisfaction: current vs. former users” results. This again supports the notion that Claude delivers more usable results, with it gaining the highest “Former users Satisfaction score” as well as the second highest “Current users Satisfaction score.”

The report states “The widest current-versus-former gaps appear for ChatGPT, DeepSeek and Grok. ChatGPT is 63.7 points higher among current users than former users; DeepSeek is 62.5 points higher, and Grok is 62.4 points higher.” Grok has a particularly low score among former users: -4.7!

The data was collected by YouGov’s BrandIndex tracking system, a tool that interrogates the live users on YouGov with targeted questions about specific topics or news stories. To learn about AI tool reputation, YouGov collected data over a five month period, between March 1, 2026 and July 31, 2026, focusing on users in the UK.

• Claude AI has the highest satisfaction score among current and former users with a net score of 56.2, ahead of Gemini at 46.5
• Grok and Siri languish at the bottom of the satisfaction ratings top 10
• The data was collected by YouGov in the period March 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026

A new YouGov survey has lifted the lid on how people feel about the AI tools and assistants they use, with Claude AI coming out on top with the highest satisfaction score. Anthropic’s AI has beaten OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Gemini into first place, but of interest are the tools that languish at the bottom of the table.

While Microsoft Copilot and Alexa hog the middle of the table, it is the reputation of Apple’s Siri assistant and Elon Musk’s Grok that are the most surprising, with respondents reporting that the tools did not satisfy.

Interestingly, Claude is also highly regarded among former users, which may indicate that competing tools (particularly those with a poorer reputation) have a lot of catching up to do in the public consciousness.

Everyone loves Claude

Collected over a five-month period, YouGov established two sets of data: the “Top 10 AI assistants by Satisfaction among current and former users” and “AI assistant Satisfaction: current vs. former users.”

Based on the “Top 10 AI assistants by Satisfaction among current and former users” Claude’s 56.2 score puts it markedly ahead of Gemini on 46.5, with ChatGPT a close third on 46.0. Grok and Siri are notable for their low positions, but Alexa (42.6) and Copilot (37.2) occupy a middle space that doesn’t quite seem to match with the size of the companies behind them.

However, one thing that the survey doesn’t tell us is how the Satisfaction metric might be affected by tools that are easy to find or use (for example, Siri or Alexa) versus AI tools that need to be sought out, such as ChatGPT or Claude.

AI tool reputations

YouGov’s data also explores the difference between the satisfaction of current users and former users in the “AI assistant Satisfaction: current vs. former users” results. This again supports the notion that Claude delivers more usable results, with it gaining the highest “Former users Satisfaction score” as well as the second highest “Current users Satisfaction score.”

The report states “The widest current-versus-former gaps appear for ChatGPT, DeepSeek and Grok. ChatGPT is 63.7 points higher among current users than former users; DeepSeek is 62.5 points higher, and Grok is 62.4 points higher.” Grok has a particularly low score among former users: -4.7!

The data was collected by YouGov’s BrandIndex tracking system, a tool that interrogates the live users on YouGov with targeted questions about specific topics or news stories. To learn about AI tool reputation, YouGov collected data over a five month period, between March 1, 2026 and July 31, 2026, focusing on users in the UK.

Just when it looked like foldable phones might fade into irrelevance (they represented just 1.5% of global smartphone sales in 2025), Samsung has come along with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 — a passport-shaped foldable that could, with Apple’s help, catapult dual-screen devices into the mainstream.

We’ve actually seen this form factor before — the Huawei Pura X Max, for instance, debuted in China earlier this year — but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 marks the first time a passport-style foldable has been made available in Western markets.

So, is it as revolutionary as Samsung wants us to believe? I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for exactly a month now, and I can safely say that, yes, it’s a supremely versatile content-watching machine — though there are some quirks to be aware of if you’re thinking of spending $1,899 /£1,699 / AU$2,699 on one.

In this article, I’ll run through what I love, don’t love, and just generally think about Samsung’s new kid on the block. You can also check out our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review for an in-depth look at specific features, or watch the video below for an on-camera rundown of everything I’m about to say.

Calling all video lovers

Let’s kick off with my thoughts on the Z Fold 8’s design, which ditches the productivity-focused dimensions of previous book-style foldables for a squatter, passport shape when closed and a more practical rectangular shape when opened.

Samsung says these dimension tweaks are a response to changing consumer habits (read: we’re all addicted to scrolling in 2026), and it’s easy to see why the Z Fold 8 is a better phone for browsing social media, watching videos, and reading articles than the larger Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

For starters, the 5.5-inch, 10:16 cover display is perfect for one-handed use of full-sized apps. You don’t have to stretch your thumb to reach the top of the screen, and it’s also much easier to type on this wider display than on taller, narrower book-style foldables.

(Image credit: Future)

The phone’s width might make one-handed typing a bit of a challenge for those with smaller hands, but it’s honestly super nostalgic to type with two hands (which is how we all type for the most part anyway), as it feels a bit like using an old BlackBerry phone without the physical keyboard. Remember those?

Turn the Z Fold 8 on its side, and this cover screen becomes a 16:10 canvas that’s perfectly sized for YouTube videos, Netflix movies, and other video content. The content's aspect ratio stays the same as on any other phone, but in this orientation, the Z Fold 8 removes awkward pillarboxing for a more immersive viewing experience.

(Image credit: Future)

I did find that my hand would sometimes cover the bottom-firing speaker when I held the phone like this, but half-unfolding the Z Fold 8 and letting it stand independently has honestly become one of my favorite ways to watch video on any phone.

All this being said, you’re not buying a foldable to use one screen only, and opening up the Z Fold 8 gives you a glorious 7.6-inch, 4:3 display that’s — you guessed it! — also great for video.

On the front display, most video content is cropped by default to 16:9, but you still get smaller black bars here and less negative space than you would on something like the Z Fold 8 Ultra. But the Z Fold 8 really shines when displaying native 4:3 content like older anime shows.

I mean, just *look* at this Neon Genesis Evangelion episode on Netflix and tell me there’s a better way to watch TV on a phone:

(Image credit: Future)

And you can say the same for reading. Using the unfolded Z Fold 8 in portrait is great for scrolling through websites, ebooks, and comics because 3:4 isn’t too far off the dimensions of traditional physical books.

This also makes the Z Fold 8 a great size for work-focused apps like Google Docs. While the Z Fold 8 Ultra is definitely more geared towards productivity, I found that the content-focused size of this smaller model isn’t totally unsuitable for professional tasks.

FutureFuture

One thing I have noticed, though, is that social media apps aren’t well-optimized for this unfolded screen. 3:4 isn’t too bad for Instagram, but as soon as you switch to landscape, the app just isn’t formatted nicely, so for the most part I’ve been scrolling through socials on the cover display, which feels much more normal by comparison.

And a final word on the phone’s design: the crease here is definitely less visible than it is on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung added a Flex Titanium layer to both Z Fold 8 models this year, which also makes the hinge feel sturdier, and the phone unfold completely flat. And while phones like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Honor Magic V6 offer better dust resistance, I’ve never worried about the durability of my Z Fold 8.

Pocketable power

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of performance, the Z Fold 8 is just as fun to use as it is to look at. It’s got a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and 12GB of RAM, so games like Asphalt Legends run smoothly at their highest graphical settings.

Samsung has also updated its Multi-Window feature so you can use up to three apps side-by-side vertically or horizontally, as well as via the older splitting method. I can’t say I’ve ever needed to use three apps simultaneously, but having two apps open side-by-side is definitely useful for cross-referencing info while working, and if you’re really unhinged, you can scroll through Reels AND TikTok at the same time.

Now Nudge has been updated too, and will open suggested apps in split-screen, which is a nice way to encourage you to use the full potential of the foldable phone you've just spent so much money on.

Camera compromises

(Image credit: Future / Tom Bedford)

Right, enough of the good stuff — let’s talk about what you lose by choosing this type of foldable over another.

The biggest compromise comes in the camera department, as while the Z Fold 8’s main and ultra-wide snappers are decent enough, there’s no form of telephoto camera to speak of here, which is… pretty wild considering how much this phone costs.

The 50MP main camera does offer 2x in-sensor zoom for a little extra reach when you need it, but you’ll start to lose image quality when zooming digitally up to 10x. Thankfully, the main and ultra-wide cameras you do get are pretty solid, offering vibrant colors and plenty of detail, but you will get sharper images on the more camera-focused Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Here's a picture-by-picture comparison of the two phones' photography capabilities, as captured by TechRadar contributor Tom Bedford:

A picture of some yellow flowers, in a garden, captured on the Fold 8....Future...and the same picture on the Fold 8 Ultra. So far, pretty similar, albeit with some added blur.FutureGetting closer into the flowers on the Z Fold 8, it basically looks like I've cropped the previous image...Future... but zooming in on the Z Fold 8 Ultra gives some real depth of field, making for a better picture.Future

That said, selfies are great, and portrait mode is still a Samsung strength, while Smart video features like Super Steady video with Horizontal Lock and My FanCam keep the Z Fold 8 feeling fun and fresh. The former levels out shaky footage at the expense of some resolution, while the latter lets you create a motion-tracked video of a particular subject from any video.

Yes, that's me — and our unimpressed Senior Social Media Editor, Vik (Image credit: Future)

My FanCam is pretty effective, though, as we explained in our review of the phone; the subject needs to be well lit and large enough in the frame for Samsung’s algorithm to identify. There’s no manual tracking option, so you’re at the mercy of the feature as to whether your footage is compatible.

Battery life is another good-but-not-great aspect of the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Yes, it’s the first Samsung phone to feature a silicon-carbon battery, and yes, it has better battery life than the Z Fold 7 — but you won’t get Honor- or Oppo-level endurance here.

Samsung says you’ll get 26 hours of video playback from a single charge of the Z Fold 8, and that’s true, but only if you stick to the cover screen. In reality, a day with the phone means switching between screens, watching YouTube videos in unfolded mode, maybe gaming a bit — and as such, the real battery life figure lands closer to somewhere between a day and a day-and-a-half.

Mind you, that’s still… pretty good! I charge my phone every night anyway, so I haven’t been left in the lurch with a dead Z Fold 8, but I don’t think the inclusion of silicon-carbon technology here is the revolution that some people (including me) maybe hoped it would be.

The Honor Magic V6, for context, uses a larger 6,600mAh battery that lasts for well over two days, and that’s a figure that not even the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra can touch.

For charging, you’re getting 45W wired speeds, which will get you to 50% in around 25 minutes and a full charge in about an hour, and again, those are perfectly good if not exceptional numbers.

You also get 20W wireless charging, but as with every other Samsung phone, you’ll need to buy a magnetic case to make use of it, as the Z Fold 8 doesn’t have any built-in magnets.

One month verdict

(Image credit: Future / Tom Bedford)

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 so far, and have been pleasantly surprised by just how well this new form factor works for most things I do on my phone every day.

Videos look great on both displays; I love typing on the cover screen and reading on the inner screen, and the Z Fold 8 is also powerful enough to be a nice little gaming machine.

You’ll get better cameras and battery life by choosing a regular flagship phone or the more expensive Z Fold 8 Ultra, but none of those devices will feel as fun or special as the Z Fold 8.

To be honest, I feel similarly about this phone as I do the iPhone Air. It seems weird and silly at first — and you’re paying a lot of money for fewer flagship features — but the Z Fold 8 is just very fun to use day-to-day, and it brings back some of the excitement that foldable phones have been missing.

If the rumors are true and Apple is indeed releasing a similarly sized iPhone Ultra later this year, this new form factor has a real chance of taking off — but as things stand right now, the Z Fold 8 is the foldable to buy if, like me, consuming content is what you do best.

Just when it looked like foldable phones might fade into irrelevance (they represented just 1.5% of global smartphone sales in 2025), Samsung has come along with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 — a passport-shaped foldable that could, with Apple’s help, catapult dual-screen devices into the mainstream.

We’ve actually seen this form factor before — the Huawei Pura X Max, for instance, debuted in China earlier this year — but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 marks the first time a passport-style foldable has been made available in Western markets.

So, is it as revolutionary as Samsung wants us to believe? I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for exactly a month now, and I can safely say that, yes, it’s a supremely versatile content-watching machine — though there are some quirks to be aware of if you’re thinking of spending $1,899 /£1,699 / AU$2,699 on one.

In this article, I’ll run through what I love, don’t love, and just generally think about Samsung’s new kid on the block. You can also check out our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review for an in-depth look at specific features, or watch the video below for an on-camera rundown of everything I’m about to say.

Calling all video lovers

Let’s kick off with my thoughts on the Z Fold 8’s design, which ditches the productivity-focused dimensions of previous book-style foldables for a squatter, passport shape when closed and a more practical rectangular shape when opened.

Samsung says these dimension tweaks are a response to changing consumer habits (read: we’re all addicted to scrolling in 2026), and it’s easy to see why the Z Fold 8 is a better phone for browsing social media, watching videos, and reading articles than the larger Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

For starters, the 5.5-inch, 10:16 cover display is perfect for one-handed use of full-sized apps. You don’t have to stretch your thumb to reach the top of the screen, and it’s also much easier to type on this wider display than on taller, narrower book-style foldables.

(Image credit: Future)

The phone’s width might make one-handed typing a bit of a challenge for those with smaller hands, but it’s honestly super nostalgic to type with two hands (which is how we all type for the most part anyway), as it feels a bit like using an old BlackBerry phone without the physical keyboard. Remember those?

Turn the Z Fold 8 on its side, and this cover screen becomes a 16:10 canvas that’s perfectly sized for YouTube videos, Netflix movies, and other video content. The content's aspect ratio stays the same as on any other phone, but in this orientation, the Z Fold 8 removes awkward pillarboxing for a more immersive viewing experience.

(Image credit: Future)

I did find that my hand would sometimes cover the bottom-firing speaker when I held the phone like this, but half-unfolding the Z Fold 8 and letting it stand independently has honestly become one of my favorite ways to watch video on any phone.

All this being said, you’re not buying a foldable to use one screen only, and opening up the Z Fold 8 gives you a glorious 7.6-inch, 4:3 display that’s — you guessed it! — also great for video.

On the front display, most video content is cropped by default to 16:9, but you still get smaller black bars here and less negative space than you would on something like the Z Fold 8 Ultra. But the Z Fold 8 really shines when displaying native 4:3 content like older anime shows.

I mean, just *look* at this Neon Genesis Evangelion episode on Netflix and tell me there’s a better way to watch TV on a phone:

(Image credit: Future)

And you can say the same for reading. Using the unfolded Z Fold 8 in portrait is great for scrolling through websites, ebooks, and comics because 3:4 isn’t too far off the dimensions of traditional physical books.

This also makes the Z Fold 8 a great size for work-focused apps like Google Docs. While the Z Fold 8 Ultra is definitely more geared towards productivity, I found that the content-focused size of this smaller model isn’t totally unsuitable for professional tasks.

FutureFuture

One thing I have noticed, though, is that social media apps aren’t well-optimized for this unfolded screen. 3:4 isn’t too bad for Instagram, but as soon as you switch to landscape, the app just isn’t formatted nicely, so for the most part I’ve been scrolling through socials on the cover display, which feels much more normal by comparison.

And a final word on the phone’s design: the crease here is definitely less visible than it is on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung added a Flex Titanium layer to both Z Fold 8 models this year, which also makes the hinge feel sturdier, and the phone unfold completely flat. And while phones like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Honor Magic V6 offer better dust resistance, I’ve never worried about the durability of my Z Fold 8.

Pocketable power

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of performance, the Z Fold 8 is just as fun to use as it is to look at. It’s got a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and 12GB of RAM, so games like Asphalt Legends run smoothly at their highest graphical settings.

Samsung has also updated its Multi-Window feature so you can use up to three apps side-by-side vertically or horizontally, as well as via the older splitting method. I can’t say I’ve ever needed to use three apps simultaneously, but having two apps open side-by-side is definitely useful for cross-referencing info while working, and if you’re really unhinged, you can scroll through Reels AND TikTok at the same time.

Now Nudge has been updated too, and will open suggested apps in split-screen, which is a nice way to encourage you to use the full potential of the foldable phone you've just spent so much money on.

Camera compromises

(Image credit: Future / Tom Bedford)

Right, enough of the good stuff — let’s talk about what you lose by choosing this type of foldable over another.

The biggest compromise comes in the camera department, as while the Z Fold 8’s main and ultra-wide snappers are decent enough, there’s no form of telephoto camera to speak of here, which is… pretty wild considering how much this phone costs.

The 50MP main camera does offer 2x in-sensor zoom for a little extra reach when you need it, but you’ll start to lose image quality when zooming digitally up to 10x. Thankfully, the main and ultra-wide cameras you do get are pretty solid, offering vibrant colors and plenty of detail, but you will get sharper images on the more camera-focused Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Here's a picture-by-picture comparison of the two phones' photography capabilities, as captured by TechRadar contributor Tom Bedford:

A picture of some yellow flowers, in a garden, captured on the Fold 8....Future...and the same picture on the Fold 8 Ultra. So far, pretty similar, albeit with some added blur.FutureGetting closer into the flowers on the Z Fold 8, it basically looks like I've cropped the previous image...Future... but zooming in on the Z Fold 8 Ultra gives some real depth of field, making for a better picture.Future

That said, selfies are great, and portrait mode is still a Samsung strength, while Smart video features like Super Steady video with Horizontal Lock and My FanCam keep the Z Fold 8 feeling fun and fresh. The former levels out shaky footage at the expense of some resolution, while the latter lets you create a motion-tracked video of a particular subject from any video.

Yes, that's me — and our unimpressed Senior Social Media Editor, Vik (Image credit: Future)

My FanCam is pretty effective, though, as we explained in our review of the phone; the subject needs to be well lit and large enough in the frame for Samsung’s algorithm to identify. There’s no manual tracking option, so you’re at the mercy of the feature as to whether your footage is compatible.

Battery life is another good-but-not-great aspect of the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Yes, it’s the first Samsung phone to feature a silicon-carbon battery, and yes, it has better battery life than the Z Fold 7 — but you won’t get Honor- or Oppo-level endurance here.

Samsung says you’ll get 26 hours of video playback from a single charge of the Z Fold 8, and that’s true, but only if you stick to the cover screen. In reality, a day with the phone means switching between screens, watching YouTube videos in unfolded mode, maybe gaming a bit — and as such, the real battery life figure lands closer to somewhere between a day and a day-and-a-half.

Mind you, that’s still… pretty good! I charge my phone every night anyway, so I haven’t been left in the lurch with a dead Z Fold 8, but I don’t think the inclusion of silicon-carbon technology here is the revolution that some people (including me) maybe hoped it would be.

The Honor Magic V6, for context, uses a larger 6,600mAh battery that lasts for well over two days, and that’s a figure that not even the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra can touch.

For charging, you’re getting 45W wired speeds, which will get you to 50% in around 25 minutes and a full charge in about an hour, and again, those are perfectly good if not exceptional numbers.

You also get 20W wireless charging, but as with every other Samsung phone, you’ll need to buy a magnetic case to make use of it, as the Z Fold 8 doesn’t have any built-in magnets.

One month verdict

(Image credit: Future / Tom Bedford)

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 so far, and have been pleasantly surprised by just how well this new form factor works for most things I do on my phone every day.

Videos look great on both displays; I love typing on the cover screen and reading on the inner screen, and the Z Fold 8 is also powerful enough to be a nice little gaming machine.

You’ll get better cameras and battery life by choosing a regular flagship phone or the more expensive Z Fold 8 Ultra, but none of those devices will feel as fun or special as the Z Fold 8.

To be honest, I feel similarly about this phone as I do the iPhone Air. It seems weird and silly at first — and you’re paying a lot of money for fewer flagship features — but the Z Fold 8 is just very fun to use day-to-day, and it brings back some of the excitement that foldable phones have been missing.

If the rumors are true and Apple is indeed releasing a similarly sized iPhone Ultra later this year, this new form factor has a real chance of taking off — but as things stand right now, the Z Fold 8 is the foldable to buy if, like me, consuming content is what you do best.

RGB TVs are the latest talk of the TV world, with multiple brands embracing the new technology. Known by different names depending on the brand, such as Micro RGB (Samsung and LG), True RGB (Sony), and RGB mini-LED (Hisense and TCL), RGB TVs use a layer of red, green and blue mini-LEDs in their backlight, where standard mini-LED just uses white LEDs. The aim is to produce bolder, richer colors and better backlight control compared to traditional mini-LED.

I’ve tested a few RGB TVs now, and the tech shows promising signs. One of those TVs, currently sitting in our testing lab, is the Samsung R95H, the brand’s flagship Micro RGB TV. I’ve compared the R95H to a rival True RGB TV from Sony, the Bravia 7 II, and both showed what RGB is capable of.

But, given that RGB is aiming to take OLED’s spot at the top of the best TVs pile, I thought I’d compare the R95H to a rival OLED, using reference scenes from 4K Blu-rays I use in my AV testing. The OLED I’ve chosen is the LG G6, one of the best OLED TVs I’ve tested so far in 2026.

So, let’s find out how a flagship OLED compares to a flagship RGB TV.

A quick note on the photos below: the R95H has a red tint due to the camera interacting with the glare-free matte screen. This red tint is not visible when viewing with the naked eye.

Brightness

Both TVs deliver big brightness, but surprisingly it's the LG G6 OLED (left) that has punchier highlights and brightness, shown in this shot of Speed Racer (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Traditionally, mini-LED would take the brightness crown easily, as mini-LED in recent years has easily exceeded 3,000 nits, even in budget models, while OLED has struggled to break the 2,000-nit mark. However, that’s changed in the last couple of years, with OLED now delivering real brightness improvements.

Measuring both TV’s brightness, the LG G6 initially hit 2,471 nits peak HDR brightness in my first tests in March 2026. Since then, the G6 has received a few firmware updates, and in my most recent measurements, taken in July 2026, it hit 3,004 nits (both measurements were taken in Filmmaker Mode). These are huge results for OLED. As for the Samsung R95H, it measured 1,977 nits peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode, while in its ‘brighter’ movie mode it hit 1,960 nits. So, the G6 easily takes the peak HDR win.

As for fullscreen brightness, where mini-LED often succeeds, the G6 hit 451 nits fullscreen HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode, while the R95H hit 612 nits. So here, the RGB TV takes the win, but the gap isn’t as big as it used to be. Flagship OLEDs would often struggle to break 300 nits two years ago, but that’s changed now.

What does this mean for real-world scenes though? For the most part, I've found that these measurements have translated to in-person viewing. Watching Speed Racer, the G6 shows much punchier HDR highlights, such as the headlamps of the Mach 5 or the bright, blue sky above the city as the Racer family fly to Royalton Industries. Watching footage of snow from the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray, the whites of the snow have more impact on the G6, though there’s still some nice brightness in the R95H.

The G6 (left) impressed me with its bright-room viewing, but the R95H's (right) matte screen is the best for completely eliminating mirror-like reflections (Image credit: Future)

Bright-room viewing and mirror-like reflections have often been OLED’s kryptonite, due to the very glossy screens of these TVs. However, when I tested the G6 next to the Samsung S95H/S99H, the latter of which has a glare-free matte screen, I found that the G6’s anti-reflective screen was very effective at reducing reflections while maintaining strong black tones. The same is true here with the G6 and the R95H, though in terms of eliminating mirror-like reflections, the R95H, which is also equipped with the glare-free matte screen, does a better job. The G6 still impresses for an OLED, though.

Colors

Both TVs deliver excellent colors, but while the R95H (right) has the color luminance, the G6 (left) has the color volume and depth. (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Color reproduction is one area where RGB TVs are being touted for their capabilities, and based on the ones I’ve tested so far, they certainly can deliver impressive results. OLED is known for the strength of its colors too, however.

In Speed Racer, both TVs deliver vibrant, punchy colors that really pop on screen. Both manage to reproduce the saturated, bright colors of the Racer household, with its orange walls, pink details and sometimes lime-green paintwork. The characters' clothing, such as Trixie’s bright pink shirt and Spritle’s yellow shirt, are also expertly handled by both TVs. The real difference is each TV’s color profile. While the G6 delivers these colors with real depth and richness, the R95H’s colors are more subtle, and arguably more accurate and natural looking.

The G6 (left) delivers bolder colors comapred to the R95H (right) when displaying the Lumas from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Nintendo / Universal Pictures / Future Again, the G6's (left) colors have that bit more punch to them Nintendo / Universal Pictures / Future

Switching to animation, in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, both TVs again demonstrated excellent color reproduction, with a similar profile to what I’d seen in Speed Racer. As the Lumas gathered for story time, the various colors of their bodies popped on both TVs, and again the G6 had that beautiful depth and boldness, while the R95H had a more neutral but realistic look.

I did find at times that the G6 leaned a little too heavily towards red, which made some reds, such as Mario’s hat and overalls or the red of a toadstool, look a little oversaturated compared to the rest of the picture. The R95H had a much more uniform color profile, with no one color standing out. Still, the G6’s more vivid colors were hard to look over, and did really suit the crisp, colorful animation of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Contrast and dark room viewing

Both the G6 (left) and R95H (right) deliver strong contrast, balancing light and dark tones well in this scene from The Batman (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Switching both TVs to Filmmaker Mode for darker content, I started my comparisons with my go-to contrast-y movie: The Batman. While OLEDs tend to be the best option for high-contrast scenes, thanks to their self-dimming pixels for deeper dark tones, I was surprised by how close this particular contest was.

In high-contrast scenes, such as the exploration of the crime scene at Mayor Mitchell's house, or as Bruce talks with Alfred in the Batcave, both TVs demonstrated an excellent balance between the dark tones of the environment and the lamps/overhead lights. While the G6 did show richer dark tones overall, the R95H’s highlights, such as light hitting the side of Commissioner Savage’s face at the aforementioned crime scene, actually had more impact, despite its lower peak HDR brightness.

Both TVs also showed superb shadow detail. When Batman stands on a darkened subway platform, his armor is completely legible, despite the dark surroundings and dimly lit nature of the scene; this is a scene that some TVs I’ve tested have struggled with. Both TVs also did a very good job preserving the dark tones while accurately displaying these details too.

Both TVs delivered deep black levels, accurately portraying this shot of space from Alien: Romulus (Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future )

Another thing I noticed while watching The Batman was that I actually preferred the R95H’s skin tones. On the G6, people’s skin tones in darker scenes looked a little washed out, while on the R95H they appeared to have more color, looking more true-to-life.

Sitting between the two TVs, I did notice that off-center, the R95H is prone to some backlight blooming (where bright objects against a dark background have a halo of light around them), whereas the G6 wasn’t, thanks to its self-dimming pixels and lack of backlight.

For one final test, I used a scene from Alien: Romulus, in which the team approaches the Romulus station for the first time. Both TVs did a fantastic job rendering the deep, black tones of space, and while I expected this from the G6 OLED, I was pleasantly surprised by how rich the R95H’s blacks were, especially for backlit TV.

OLED vs RGB: who comes out on top?

For me, the G6 OLED is the better TV of the two, but the R95H proves just how effective Micro RGB can be, and how OLED manufacturers should be wary of the new technology (Image credit: Future)

In terms of pricing, these two TVs are on a level pegging. A 65-inch G6 costs $2,999 / £2,999 / AU$4,999, while a 65-inch R95H costs $2,999 / £3,099 / AU$4,999. So, while they may both be at the very premium end of the market, if you have that kind of money, price isn’t really a factor here, as there’s nothing much between them.

So it really comes down to performance. I’ve said before that RGB TVs, at least the ones I’ve tested, haven’t achieved ‘OLED-killer’ status just yet, and the same is true here — but it’s getting close. For me, I preferred the G6’s overall contrast, textures and color performance, but that doesn’t mean the R95H didn’t impress, especially for darker-room viewing, and when prices start to drop for these two TVs, my decision could swing the other way. OLED may be the current king, but RGB is hot on its heels. Over the next couple of years, this is going to be a thoroughly intriguing contest.

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RGB TVs are the latest talk of the TV world, with multiple brands embracing the new technology. Known by different names depending on the brand, such as Micro RGB (Samsung and LG), True RGB (Sony), and RGB mini-LED (Hisense and TCL), RGB TVs use a layer of red, green and blue mini-LEDs in their backlight, where standard mini-LED just uses white LEDs. The aim is to produce bolder, richer colors and better backlight control compared to traditional mini-LED.

I’ve tested a few RGB TVs now, and the tech shows promising signs. One of those TVs, currently sitting in our testing lab, is the Samsung R95H, the brand’s flagship Micro RGB TV. I’ve compared the R95H to a rival True RGB TV from Sony, the Bravia 7 II, and both showed what RGB is capable of.

But, given that RGB is aiming to take OLED’s spot at the top of the best TVs pile, I thought I’d compare the R95H to a rival OLED, using reference scenes from 4K Blu-rays I use in my AV testing. The OLED I’ve chosen is the LG G6, one of the best OLED TVs I’ve tested so far in 2026.

So, let’s find out how a flagship OLED compares to a flagship RGB TV.

A quick note on the photos below: the R95H has a red tint due to the camera interacting with the glare-free matte screen. This red tint is not visible when viewing with the naked eye.

Brightness

Both TVs deliver big brightness, but surprisingly it's the LG G6 OLED (left) that has punchier highlights and brightness, shown in this shot of Speed Racer (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Traditionally, mini-LED would take the brightness crown easily, as mini-LED in recent years has easily exceeded 3,000 nits, even in budget models, while OLED has struggled to break the 2,000-nit mark. However, that’s changed in the last couple of years, with OLED now delivering real brightness improvements.

Measuring both TV’s brightness, the LG G6 initially hit 2,471 nits peak HDR brightness in my first tests in March 2026. Since then, the G6 has received a few firmware updates, and in my most recent measurements, taken in July 2026, it hit 3,004 nits (both measurements were taken in Filmmaker Mode). These are huge results for OLED. As for the Samsung R95H, it measured 1,977 nits peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode, while in its ‘brighter’ movie mode it hit 1,960 nits. So, the G6 easily takes the peak HDR win.

As for fullscreen brightness, where mini-LED often succeeds, the G6 hit 451 nits fullscreen HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode, while the R95H hit 612 nits. So here, the RGB TV takes the win, but the gap isn’t as big as it used to be. Flagship OLEDs would often struggle to break 300 nits two years ago, but that’s changed now.

What does this mean for real-world scenes though? For the most part, I've found that these measurements have translated to in-person viewing. Watching Speed Racer, the G6 shows much punchier HDR highlights, such as the headlamps of the Mach 5 or the bright, blue sky above the city as the Racer family fly to Royalton Industries. Watching footage of snow from the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray, the whites of the snow have more impact on the G6, though there’s still some nice brightness in the R95H.

The G6 (left) impressed me with its bright-room viewing, but the R95H's (right) matte screen is the best for completely eliminating mirror-like reflections (Image credit: Future)

Bright-room viewing and mirror-like reflections have often been OLED’s kryptonite, due to the very glossy screens of these TVs. However, when I tested the G6 next to the Samsung S95H/S99H, the latter of which has a glare-free matte screen, I found that the G6’s anti-reflective screen was very effective at reducing reflections while maintaining strong black tones. The same is true here with the G6 and the R95H, though in terms of eliminating mirror-like reflections, the R95H, which is also equipped with the glare-free matte screen, does a better job. The G6 still impresses for an OLED, though.

Colors

Both TVs deliver excellent colors, but while the R95H (right) has the color luminance, the G6 (left) has the color volume and depth. (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Color reproduction is one area where RGB TVs are being touted for their capabilities, and based on the ones I’ve tested so far, they certainly can deliver impressive results. OLED is known for the strength of its colors too, however.

In Speed Racer, both TVs deliver vibrant, punchy colors that really pop on screen. Both manage to reproduce the saturated, bright colors of the Racer household, with its orange walls, pink details and sometimes lime-green paintwork. The characters' clothing, such as Trixie’s bright pink shirt and Spritle’s yellow shirt, are also expertly handled by both TVs. The real difference is each TV’s color profile. While the G6 delivers these colors with real depth and richness, the R95H’s colors are more subtle, and arguably more accurate and natural looking.

The G6 (left) delivers bolder colors comapred to the R95H (right) when displaying the Lumas from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Nintendo / Universal Pictures / Future Again, the G6's (left) colors have that bit more punch to them Nintendo / Universal Pictures / Future

Switching to animation, in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, both TVs again demonstrated excellent color reproduction, with a similar profile to what I’d seen in Speed Racer. As the Lumas gathered for story time, the various colors of their bodies popped on both TVs, and again the G6 had that beautiful depth and boldness, while the R95H had a more neutral but realistic look.

I did find at times that the G6 leaned a little too heavily towards red, which made some reds, such as Mario’s hat and overalls or the red of a toadstool, look a little oversaturated compared to the rest of the picture. The R95H had a much more uniform color profile, with no one color standing out. Still, the G6’s more vivid colors were hard to look over, and did really suit the crisp, colorful animation of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Contrast and dark room viewing

Both the G6 (left) and R95H (right) deliver strong contrast, balancing light and dark tones well in this scene from The Batman (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Switching both TVs to Filmmaker Mode for darker content, I started my comparisons with my go-to contrast-y movie: The Batman. While OLEDs tend to be the best option for high-contrast scenes, thanks to their self-dimming pixels for deeper dark tones, I was surprised by how close this particular contest was.

In high-contrast scenes, such as the exploration of the crime scene at Mayor Mitchell's house, or as Bruce talks with Alfred in the Batcave, both TVs demonstrated an excellent balance between the dark tones of the environment and the lamps/overhead lights. While the G6 did show richer dark tones overall, the R95H’s highlights, such as light hitting the side of Commissioner Savage’s face at the aforementioned crime scene, actually had more impact, despite its lower peak HDR brightness.

Both TVs also showed superb shadow detail. When Batman stands on a darkened subway platform, his armor is completely legible, despite the dark surroundings and dimly lit nature of the scene; this is a scene that some TVs I’ve tested have struggled with. Both TVs also did a very good job preserving the dark tones while accurately displaying these details too.

Both TVs delivered deep black levels, accurately portraying this shot of space from Alien: Romulus (Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future )

Another thing I noticed while watching The Batman was that I actually preferred the R95H’s skin tones. On the G6, people’s skin tones in darker scenes looked a little washed out, while on the R95H they appeared to have more color, looking more true-to-life.

Sitting between the two TVs, I did notice that off-center, the R95H is prone to some backlight blooming (where bright objects against a dark background have a halo of light around them), whereas the G6 wasn’t, thanks to its self-dimming pixels and lack of backlight.

For one final test, I used a scene from Alien: Romulus, in which the team approaches the Romulus station for the first time. Both TVs did a fantastic job rendering the deep, black tones of space, and while I expected this from the G6 OLED, I was pleasantly surprised by how rich the R95H’s blacks were, especially for backlit TV.

OLED vs RGB: who comes out on top?

For me, the G6 OLED is the better TV of the two, but the R95H proves just how effective Micro RGB can be, and how OLED manufacturers should be wary of the new technology (Image credit: Future)

In terms of pricing, these two TVs are on a level pegging. A 65-inch G6 costs $2,999 / £2,999 / AU$4,999, while a 65-inch R95H costs $2,999 / £3,099 / AU$4,999. So, while they may both be at the very premium end of the market, if you have that kind of money, price isn’t really a factor here, as there’s nothing much between them.

So it really comes down to performance. I’ve said before that RGB TVs, at least the ones I’ve tested, haven’t achieved ‘OLED-killer’ status just yet, and the same is true here — but it’s getting close. For me, I preferred the G6’s overall contrast, textures and color performance, but that doesn’t mean the R95H didn’t impress, especially for darker-room viewing, and when prices start to drop for these two TVs, my decision could swing the other way. OLED may be the current king, but RGB is hot on its heels. Over the next couple of years, this is going to be a thoroughly intriguing contest.

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L'Atitude 52°N smart glasses: one-minute review

A new smart specs maker has arrived on the scene, and it’s looking to arrive with a bang. The L'Atitude 52°N Smart Glasses are loud and proud, and after L'Atitude dispatched a slightly rocky first batch of review units to tech publications (including ourselves), I’ve been putting the newer, more production-ready glasses through their paces over the past month.

Let’s first unpack the selling points, which I discussed with L'Atitude’s founders (including ex-OnePlus engineer Gary Chen) in the weeks before my review. Made in Europe and unapologetically Euro-coded, with Berlin-inspired and, coming soon, Milan frame designs, these won’t be the glasses for everyone, and that’s okay, the team says; but they are for adventurers.

On board, you’ll find Goya AI (named after the Spanish painter, Francisco Goya), a dulcet-toned Southern California male voice assistant who’s eager to help you explore the world with features like AI Tour Guide, Live Translation, and the usual retinue of camera-laden smart-glasses features.

At least, that’s the pitch. On vacation with my lovely mom on the Greek island of Santorini, I put these supersized specs to the test, and although I can see them shaping up to be terrific travel companions, right now they’re dogged by big problems. From spotty software to an entirely unclear future in terms of how much its AI features will cost when the subscription plan kicks in sometime in the next year, it’s hard to recommend L’Atitude’s bold frames from a value perspective, at least for now.

(Image credit: Future)L'Atitude 52°N review: price and availability

• List price: starts at $465.00 (about £345)
• Availability: US, with UK availability expected soon.

The L’Atitude Berlin glasses start at $465, which converts to about £345, increasing to $520 if you opt for photochromic lenses. At the time of writing, they’re exclusively available in the US and EU, with UK availability to follow soon. You can choose from Obsidian (black) and Dune (greige) frames as well as grey gradient, orange, and photochromic lenses. These prices apply to both the currently available Berlin frames, as well as the upcoming Milan model, which offer a more delicate design.

Already, that’s a lofty list price, especially when compared to the comparatively expensive Meta Ray-Ban (Gen 2), which start at $379 / £379 / AU$689. And it gets worse.

The major dampener here is that these glasses will, at some point, also require you to take out a subscription in order to use the full set of features, but right now we have no confirmed pricing for this. I asked the brand about its plans in this area, and they told me: “Customers who purchase any Departure Collection [a.k.a. Either the Berlin or Milan frames] product by December 31, 2026 and register an account will automatically receive a complimentary 12-month trial of all AI features, requiring no separate purchase or activation.

“The trial starts as soon as the account is activated and grants full access to current and future AI capabilities, including upcoming releases, with a generous daily usage allowance of 60 minutes. After the trial period, users can continue to enjoy AI features with a subscription plan, while essential functions will always remain accessible. AI usage tracking will soon be available in the app for added transparency.”

As for pricing for said plan, various sources cite this as “less than $20” per month, though L’Atitude didn’t confirm this when I asked. So overall, this offers little comfort given that you’re already shelling out for an already expensive pair of specs, and until that final number is confirmed I can’t in good conscience give these glasses a higher value rating.

If you love the designs here, and especially the fact no other pair of smart glasses look quite like them, then you could argue that the value-for-money proposition is improved; personally, I still think it’s a hard sell.

• Value: 2.5/5

(Image credit: Future)L'Atitude 52°N review: specs

L’Atitude 52°N

Weight

50-51g

Camera

12MP Sony sensor, 1080p video recording at 30fps

Chip

Bestechnic BES2800 6nm chipset

AI Assistant

Goya AI, powered by Google Gemini

Battery

200mAh (case offers 8-10 full recharges)

Storage

32GB

(Image credit: Future)L'Atitude 52°N review: design

• Chunky but funky frames
• Lightweight with IP65 rating
• Charging case is a behemoth

Design is where L’Atitude takes its biggest swing, and while other fashion-first and adventurous designs have hit the market in 2026, I do think the brand is carving an exciting niche, especially in the European market.

Do I love how the Berlin frames look on my face? No, but the stylish, rounder new Milan frames weren’t available for me to try when I started my testing. Still, there will be some who find the boxy shape and unapologetically Berlin-esque chunkiness is right up their street.

The nose grips were fine, but overall the glasses were a little too big and loose of a fit for me. While traversing the famous steps of Oia, which are notoriously perilous, having to hold these onto my face while I looked down at the cobbled roads meant I took a bit of a tumble and hobbled home with a sprained finger and a nasty gash; I’d put a fair chunk of responsibility on my choice of shoes and general clumsiness here, though.

They are pretty well designed, though. At just 50-51g, they’re light and comfortable to wear, and though the plasticky frames aren’t quite as svelte as, say, some Ray-Ban Meta frames, they’re far from cheap-looking. They’re IP65 rated for weather and dust resistance, and a scratch-resistant treatment is applied to the lenses, meaning they’re towards the more durable end of the spectrum versus other currently available smart glasses.

As with many smart glasses I've tried, camera placement doesn't work with hair particularly well... (Image credit: Future)

The arms house the Bestechnic BES2800 6nm chipset and 200mAh battery, as well as some pretty punchy speakers for listening to music or podcasts, calls, or chatting with the AI on the go. In day-to-day settings while out and about, I found sound leakage to be pretty minimal unless someone’s very close by and you have the volume turned up; however, in a quiet room you can hear at least some of what’s going on on-device, even at lower volumes, albeit not clearly.

There’s a 12MP camera on the left-hand side of the frame, and a matching dummy camera on the right side. A recording light flashes while you’re filming or taking shots; this is pleasingly bright, so those around you will know you’re recording. If the light is covered, capture is immediately shut down; whether or not lights are enough to alert potentially unconsenting parties is a separate conversation, but for now, this is the privacy bar that’s been set by smart-glasses manufacturers. I tried several times to obstruct this and gladly found it’s pretty darn reliable.

The biggest design fault, for me, is the case. Now, these are bulky frames, but the charging case is a real heifer at 2 x 6.8 x 3.14 inches / 5.2 x 17.5 x 8cm (H x W x D), which somewhat defeats the purpose of branding these glasses as travel-friendly, as it’s going to take up a good chunk of your carry-on luggage space. Speaking of which, I noticed following both my flight to and from Santorini that the case had suctioned shut due to the cabin pressure on board, and I had to prise it open with a pin.

Still, the case is robust and well-made, and with its IP67 rating it’s hardy enough to come along on more adventurous trips, too. Plus, it lights up a nice orange color when the glasses are charging.

• Design: 3.5/5

FutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureL'Atitude 52°N review: Performance

• On-device photo transfers are a privacy boon…
• But some shots are lost in the void
• Great photos, decent video

L'Atitude really wants you to treat its glasses, and specifically Goya AI, as a travel companion; the moment you open up the app, the AI Tour guide feature is front and center. But how do they fare on the camera-hardware side?

Fairly well, I’d say. Horizontal and vertical photos captured by the 12MP Sony sensor, and cleaned up by the on-board AI, are comparable to results from my second-generation Meta Ray-bans, and the specs record well-stabilized 1080p video at 30fps (though this pales against the latest Meta Ray-Ban’s 3K capture), with clips from 30 seconds to three minutes.

FutureFuture

Even low-light and night shots came out pretty well, and I found that framing shots broadly felt natural, though some were a little wonky. The five-mic array captured my voice impressively clearly and without too much background noise, and the speakers deliver bright, clear audio.

With 32GB of on-board memory, there’s a decent amount of room to store photos and videos before sharing them from your phone — your content goes straight to your local companion phone app instead of a permanent cloud database, swerving the privacy minefield of your most personal moments living on someone else’s database.

That being said, uploading your content isn’t always easy. I most definitely lost a few shots — especially if my glasses ran out of battery before I had a chance to sync them — and syncing sometimes inexplicably stalls, and you have to wait a while to try again.

Elsewhere, everything works as expected; the touch controls on the arms are responsive and intuitive, and the battery lasts up to six hours — with moderate use, I generally saw four to five hours of usage. The case offers between eight and 10 full charges, and fast-charges the glasses to 70% in 20-25 minutes.

• Performance: 4/5

Goya AI is a lot better than when I tried it earlier this year, but it's prone to cutting you off and mishearing you (Image credit: Future / L'Atitude )L'Atitude 52°N review: AI features

• Goya AI often cuts you off
• Replies are spotty at best
• Tour guide feature is a work in progress

I’d originally tried some beta versions of these frames, and while the current software is far from perfect, it’s impressive to see how many kinks L’Atitude has ironed out in a few short months.

Contrary to earlier reviews you may have read, as well as my own experience, I’m pleased to report that many of Goya AI’s advertised features now work (hooray!), though in my experience it’s still not always quite as advertised.

Some of that may be to do with my main testing location; Santorini is beautiful, but there aren’t a great number of landmarks for which the tour guide feature could come in handy; and Oia, where we stayed, is a labyrinth of winding stairways, private paths and roads less traveled, so navigation — even on more developed software like Google Maps — is a challenge.

That being said, I did get to try the AI tour guide out on the ruins of the Castle of Oia, which it helpfully informed me were the ruins of the Castle of Oia, offering little else beyond a few brief words on its popularity as a sightseeing and photography spot in Santorini. This was all happening while I was fighting for my life not to be pushed off the edge of the castle walls by other tourists, so while it’s accurate, I wouldn’t exactly call it additive.

I tried this feature on a few locations back home in the UK to much the same results; sometimes, the synopses were more detailed, but I couldn’t seem to find any landmarks that offered the full walkthrough experience I’d hoped for when I first read about the “expert-level guidance” offered by the feature.

The five-mic array may help capture great audio for your video, but so much is lost in translation when speaking with Goya AI. Maybe it’s my British accent, but I found that more than half of my questions were entirely misheard, making for some hilarious if not mildly frustrating interactions with the on-board intelligence. It frequently cut me off, answered completely different questions to what I’d asked, and often couldn’t recall previous prompts.

Sometimes Goya AI does seem to understand you, but doesn’t want to execute your commands. When I asked it to take photos, shoot video, tell me what I’m looking at or play music from Spotify, Goya would occasionally spit out a totally random response at best, and at worst behave as though it was about to follow my command before doing big fat nothing. It had good days and bad days, so I have to wonder how much of this stems from connectivity issues. Regardless, spending much of your time yelling at your glasses is not what you want when you’re out travelling or in public places.

Translation to and from Greek isn’t yet available, so when I got home I tested this feature out with my Spanish friend. I wouldn’t quite call spoken-word translation live as advertised; Goya can handle approximately one sentence at a time, will need to think for up to 20 seconds, and will then speak it in your native language through the glasses. When I asked Goya to translate a written book synopsis from Spanish to English, though, it worked much more quickly and fluidly; with both tests, I was impressed with its accuracy, though it’s to be expected with Google’s Gemini under the hood.

• AI: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the L'Atitude 52°N?

Attribute

Comment

Score

Design

A bold first stab at the smart glasses market with broadly well thought-out design features, but one with a few small quirks

4/5

Performance

Decent cameras, decent sound, and decent battery. These are pretty good all-rounders, but again, there are quirks.

4/5

AI

Not quite frictionless and not quite as additive as I'd hope with its travel-first features, but these glasses do stick the landing on a lot of standard smart glasses features

3.5/5

Value

A bit pricey as-is, and until there's clarity on AI feature subscription costs, this score sticks.

2.5/5

Buy them if…

You love the Berlin look

I won’t take that away from you, even if it looks so wrong on my face — looks-wise these are a striking and exciting addition to a market that’s been fairly same-y for a long time.

You want locally stored content

While I can’t guarantee that these offer absolute security and privacy, I can say that the direct-to-phone photo transfers offer some peace of mind, given reports of other brands’ privacy minefields.

Don’t buy them if…

(Image credit: Future)

You want to spare yourself a subscription

The great, looming unknown of the upcoming L’Atitude AI subscription fee is off-putting at best, and given many of the features are still works in progress, it’s hard to recommend these glasses to the budget-conscious.

You want top-of-the-range video cameras

Photo quality is competitive with that of smart specs from the big-hitting brands, but on the video front, 1080p at 30fps is a low bar.

How I tested the L'Atitude 52°N

• I took the glasses on my week-long vacation to Santorini, and tested them for around 10 hours in the UK
• I tried all of its advertised software and hardware features
• I used its AI to help enrich my vacation. Well, I tried.

As these are travel-focused smart specs, what better way to test them than to hit the road and take them on vacation? On my trip to Santorini, I tried their travel-focused software features, including the AI tour guide, asking for restaurant recommendations and questions about the island’s history, weather, and the like.

Having recently reviewed the second-generation Meta Ray-bans, I used those specs, which we rate as the best overall smart glasses pick for most people, as my main comparison point, but I’ve also sampled a range of other models at trade shows and in our offices over the past few years.

I ran the L'Atitude app from my iPhone 17 Pro.

• First reviewed: August 2026

• Google won a bankruptcy auction for Spirit Airlines' internal business data for $10 million
• The package runs to roughly 100 million emails, 500 million Teams items, decades of payroll and crew records, and about 30 million lines of code, with customer and loyalty data excluded
• However the sale has stalled as a flight attendants' union says the privacy terms protect customers rather than employees, and a rival bidder has since offered $12.5 million

Google has successfully bid $10 million for what a court notice calls the 'Deidentified Data' of Spirit Airlines' parent company - but its bid to use the data to train AI models has run into a privacy debate.

The cache is massive: it contains roughly 100 million emails and 80,000 email accounts, and lists 17,082,644 OneDrive items, 20,577,677 SharePoint items, and 500 million Teams items, along with the Microsoft 365 environment that they were stored in.

It includes 1,092,000 time card records going back to December 2012, 175,658 employee records going back to August 1986, 3,426,618 payroll records, 148,018 employee tax forms, 5,014,676 crew pairings, applicant tracking documents, litigation case files, and employment contracts - and Bloomberg Law also notes it contains around 30 million lines of code, plus revenue, aircraft operations, and audit data.

A deal with plenty of naysayers and competitors?

Spirit Airlines was one of America's most prolific low-cost providers, and as a result, it has what one could term a treasure trove of documents that Google could leverage to train its AI models at a time when experts and subject-matter experts are increasingly in short supply on an internet that has sidelined many of them in favor of AI-generated answers.

The move, if it closes, subject to a September 9 hearing, makes sense for Google on two fronts; the AI training aspect is the most obvious one.

Google is also already a dominant surface for travel search, and it is buying one carrier's booking curves, fare behavior, and competitor pricing history out of a liquidation could give it a staggering amount of insight here on how to track, predict and parse data publically made available by other low-cost airlines thanks to a near-naked view of the internals of such a company.

The data being handed over skips 97.5 million passenger profiles and 50.2 million Free Spirit loyalty records, in addition to privileged materials.

This, however, is not enough to appease certain quarters: the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA filed a limited objection to the sale, asking the court to decline the transaction if it does not extend the same level of protections to flight attendant data as it does to consumer data.

This would concern employment records by the now-defunct airline, and does pose a legitimate concern, but 'de-identifying' records could also potentially affect data integrity across the board for an organization where much of the data is valuable only because it can be tracked back and linked reliably by AI models.

Google's public statement is that any data it receives will be rigorously scrubbed of personally identifiable information by a third party before receipt.

Google bought the data from Spirit Aviation Holdings during a bankruptcy auction in New York after it opened at $5 million. Its nearest competitor was also an AI data firm, Mercor.io, which offered $7.5 million, resulting in it being assigned alternate-bidder status if Google's bid failed to close.

What is a mind-boggling number for some is otherwise a rather cheap way for a major AI player to secure four decades of an airline's data, an amount that it would otherwise spend on a few senior engineers; for context, Google has already pledged $1 billion in education spending linked to AI.

L'Atitude 52°N smart glasses: one-minute review

A new smart specs maker has arrived on the scene, and it’s looking to arrive with a bang. The L'Atitude 52°N Smart Glasses are loud and proud, and after L'Atitude dispatched a slightly rocky first batch of review units to tech publications (including ourselves), I’ve been putting the newer, more production-ready glasses through their paces over the past month.

Let’s first unpack the selling points, which I discussed with L'Atitude’s founders (including ex-OnePlus engineer Gary Chen) in the weeks before my review. Made in Europe and unapologetically Euro-coded, with Berlin-inspired and, coming soon, Milan frame designs, these won’t be the glasses for everyone, and that’s okay, the team says; but they are for adventurers.

On board, you’ll find Goya AI (named after the Spanish painter, Francisco Goya), a dulcet-toned Southern California male voice assistant who’s eager to help you explore the world with features like AI Tour Guide, Live Translation, and the usual retinue of camera-laden smart-glasses features.

At least, that’s the pitch. On vacation with my lovely mom on the Greek island of Santorini, I put these supersized specs to the test, and although I can see them shaping up to be terrific travel companions, right now they’re dogged by big problems. From spotty software to an entirely unclear future in terms of how much its AI features will cost when the subscription plan kicks in sometime in the next year, it’s hard to recommend L’Atitude’s bold frames from a value perspective, at least for now.

(Image credit: Future)L'Atitude 52°N review: price and availability

• List price: starts at $465.00 (about £345)
• Availability: US, with UK availability expected soon.

The L’Atitude Berlin glasses start at $465, which converts to about £345, increasing to $520 if you opt for photochromic lenses. At the time of writing, they’re exclusively available in the US and EU, with UK availability to follow soon. You can choose from Obsidian (black) and Dune (greige) frames as well as grey gradient, orange, and photochromic lenses. These prices apply to both the currently available Berlin frames, as well as the upcoming Milan model, which offer a more delicate design.

Already, that’s a lofty list price, especially when compared to the comparatively expensive Meta Ray-Ban (Gen 2), which start at $379 / £379 / AU$689. And it gets worse.

The major dampener here is that these glasses will, at some point, also require you to take out a subscription in order to use the full set of features, but right now we have no confirmed pricing for this. I asked the brand about its plans in this area, and they told me: “Customers who purchase any Departure Collection [a.k.a. Either the Berlin or Milan frames] product by December 31, 2026 and register an account will automatically receive a complimentary 12-month trial of all AI features, requiring no separate purchase or activation.

“The trial starts as soon as the account is activated and grants full access to current and future AI capabilities, including upcoming releases, with a generous daily usage allowance of 60 minutes. After the trial period, users can continue to enjoy AI features with a subscription plan, while essential functions will always remain accessible. AI usage tracking will soon be available in the app for added transparency.”

As for pricing for said plan, various sources cite this as “less than $20” per month, though L’Atitude didn’t confirm this when I asked. So overall, this offers little comfort given that you’re already shelling out for an already expensive pair of specs, and until that final number is confirmed I can’t in good conscience give these glasses a higher value rating.

If you love the designs here, and especially the fact no other pair of smart glasses look quite like them, then you could argue that the value-for-money proposition is improved; personally, I still think it’s a hard sell.

• Value: 2.5/5

(Image credit: Future)L'Atitude 52°N review: specs

L’Atitude 52°N

Weight

50-51g

Camera

12MP Sony sensor, 1080p video recording at 30fps

Chip

Bestechnic BES2800 6nm chipset

AI Assistant

Goya AI, powered by Google Gemini

Battery

200mAh (case offers 8-10 full recharges)

Storage

32GB

(Image credit: Future)L'Atitude 52°N review: design

• Chunky but funky frames
• Lightweight with IP65 rating
• Charging case is a behemoth

Design is where L’Atitude takes its biggest swing, and while other fashion-first and adventurous designs have hit the market in 2026, I do think the brand is carving an exciting niche, especially in the European market.

Do I love how the Berlin frames look on my face? No, but the stylish, rounder new Milan frames weren’t available for me to try when I started my testing. Still, there will be some who find the boxy shape and unapologetically Berlin-esque chunkiness is right up their street.

The nose grips were fine, but overall the glasses were a little too big and loose of a fit for me. While traversing the famous steps of Oia, which are notoriously perilous, having to hold these onto my face while I looked down at the cobbled roads meant I took a bit of a tumble and hobbled home with a sprained finger and a nasty gash; I’d put a fair chunk of responsibility on my choice of shoes and general clumsiness here, though.

They are pretty well designed, though. At just 50-51g, they’re light and comfortable to wear, and though the plasticky frames aren’t quite as svelte as, say, some Ray-Ban Meta frames, they’re far from cheap-looking. They’re IP65 rated for weather and dust resistance, and a scratch-resistant treatment is applied to the lenses, meaning they’re towards the more durable end of the spectrum versus other currently available smart glasses.

As with many smart glasses I've tried, camera placement doesn't work with hair particularly well... (Image credit: Future)

The arms house the Bestechnic BES2800 6nm chipset and 200mAh battery, as well as some pretty punchy speakers for listening to music or podcasts, calls, or chatting with the AI on the go. In day-to-day settings while out and about, I found sound leakage to be pretty minimal unless someone’s very close by and you have the volume turned up; however, in a quiet room you can hear at least some of what’s going on on-device, even at lower volumes, albeit not clearly.

There’s a 12MP camera on the left-hand side of the frame, and a matching dummy camera on the right side. A recording light flashes while you’re filming or taking shots; this is pleasingly bright, so those around you will know you’re recording. If the light is covered, capture is immediately shut down; whether or not lights are enough to alert potentially unconsenting parties is a separate conversation, but for now, this is the privacy bar that’s been set by smart-glasses manufacturers. I tried several times to obstruct this and gladly found it’s pretty darn reliable.

The biggest design fault, for me, is the case. Now, these are bulky frames, but the charging case is a real heifer at 2 x 6.8 x 3.14 inches / 5.2 x 17.5 x 8cm (H x W x D), which somewhat defeats the purpose of branding these glasses as travel-friendly, as it’s going to take up a good chunk of your carry-on luggage space. Speaking of which, I noticed following both my flight to and from Santorini that the case had suctioned shut due to the cabin pressure on board, and I had to prise it open with a pin.

Still, the case is robust and well-made, and with its IP67 rating it’s hardy enough to come along on more adventurous trips, too. Plus, it lights up a nice orange color when the glasses are charging.

• Design: 3.5/5

FutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureL'Atitude 52°N review: Performance

• On-device photo transfers are a privacy boon…
• But some shots are lost in the void
• Great photos, decent video

L'Atitude really wants you to treat its glasses, and specifically Goya AI, as a travel companion; the moment you open up the app, the AI Tour guide feature is front and center. But how do they fare on the camera-hardware side?

Fairly well, I’d say. Horizontal and vertical photos captured by the 12MP Sony sensor, and cleaned up by the on-board AI, are comparable to results from my second-generation Meta Ray-bans, and the specs record well-stabilized 1080p video at 30fps (though this pales against the latest Meta Ray-Ban’s 3K capture), with clips from 30 seconds to three minutes.

FutureFuture

Even low-light and night shots came out pretty well, and I found that framing shots broadly felt natural, though some were a little wonky. The five-mic array captured my voice impressively clearly and without too much background noise, and the speakers deliver bright, clear audio.

With 32GB of on-board memory, there’s a decent amount of room to store photos and videos before sharing them from your phone — your content goes straight to your local companion phone app instead of a permanent cloud database, swerving the privacy minefield of your most personal moments living on someone else’s database.

That being said, uploading your content isn’t always easy. I most definitely lost a few shots — especially if my glasses ran out of battery before I had a chance to sync them — and syncing sometimes inexplicably stalls, and you have to wait a while to try again.

Elsewhere, everything works as expected; the touch controls on the arms are responsive and intuitive, and the battery lasts up to six hours — with moderate use, I generally saw four to five hours of usage. The case offers between eight and 10 full charges, and fast-charges the glasses to 70% in 20-25 minutes.

• Performance: 4/5

Goya AI is a lot better than when I tried it earlier this year, but it's prone to cutting you off and mishearing you (Image credit: Future / L'Atitude )L'Atitude 52°N review: AI features

• Goya AI often cuts you off
• Replies are spotty at best
• Tour guide feature is a work in progress

I’d originally tried some beta versions of these frames, and while the current software is far from perfect, it’s impressive to see how many kinks L’Atitude has ironed out in a few short months.

Contrary to earlier reviews you may have read, as well as my own experience, I’m pleased to report that many of Goya AI’s advertised features now work (hooray!), though in my experience it’s still not always quite as advertised.

Some of that may be to do with my main testing location; Santorini is beautiful, but there aren’t a great number of landmarks for which the tour guide feature could come in handy; and Oia, where we stayed, is a labyrinth of winding stairways, private paths and roads less traveled, so navigation — even on more developed software like Google Maps — is a challenge.

That being said, I did get to try the AI tour guide out on the ruins of the Castle of Oia, which it helpfully informed me were the ruins of the Castle of Oia, offering little else beyond a few brief words on its popularity as a sightseeing and photography spot in Santorini. This was all happening while I was fighting for my life not to be pushed off the edge of the castle walls by other tourists, so while it’s accurate, I wouldn’t exactly call it additive.

I tried this feature on a few locations back home in the UK to much the same results; sometimes, the synopses were more detailed, but I couldn’t seem to find any landmarks that offered the full walkthrough experience I’d hoped for when I first read about the “expert-level guidance” offered by the feature.

The five-mic array may help capture great audio for your video, but so much is lost in translation when speaking with Goya AI. Maybe it’s my British accent, but I found that more than half of my questions were entirely misheard, making for some hilarious if not mildly frustrating interactions with the on-board intelligence. It frequently cut me off, answered completely different questions to what I’d asked, and often couldn’t recall previous prompts.

Sometimes Goya AI does seem to understand you, but doesn’t want to execute your commands. When I asked it to take photos, shoot video, tell me what I’m looking at or play music from Spotify, Goya would occasionally spit out a totally random response at best, and at worst behave as though it was about to follow my command before doing big fat nothing. It had good days and bad days, so I have to wonder how much of this stems from connectivity issues. Regardless, spending much of your time yelling at your glasses is not what you want when you’re out travelling or in public places.

Translation to and from Greek isn’t yet available, so when I got home I tested this feature out with my Spanish friend. I wouldn’t quite call spoken-word translation live as advertised; Goya can handle approximately one sentence at a time, will need to think for up to 20 seconds, and will then speak it in your native language through the glasses. When I asked Goya to translate a written book synopsis from Spanish to English, though, it worked much more quickly and fluidly; with both tests, I was impressed with its accuracy, though it’s to be expected with Google’s Gemini under the hood.

• AI: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the L'Atitude 52°N?

Attribute

Comment

Score

Design

A bold first stab at the smart glasses market with broadly well thought-out design features, but one with a few small quirks

4/5

Performance

Decent cameras, decent sound, and decent battery. These are pretty good all-rounders, but again, there are quirks.

4/5

AI

Not quite frictionless and not quite as additive as I'd hope with its travel-first features, but these glasses do stick the landing on a lot of standard smart glasses features

3.5/5

Value

A bit pricey as-is, and until there's clarity on AI feature subscription costs, this score sticks.

2.5/5

Buy them if…

You love the Berlin look

I won’t take that away from you, even if it looks so wrong on my face — looks-wise these are a striking and exciting addition to a market that’s been fairly same-y for a long time.

You want locally stored content

While I can’t guarantee that these offer absolute security and privacy, I can say that the direct-to-phone photo transfers offer some peace of mind, given reports of other brands’ privacy minefields.

Don’t buy them if…

(Image credit: Future)

You want to spare yourself a subscription

The great, looming unknown of the upcoming L’Atitude AI subscription fee is off-putting at best, and given many of the features are still works in progress, it’s hard to recommend these glasses to the budget-conscious.

You want top-of-the-range video cameras

Photo quality is competitive with that of smart specs from the big-hitting brands, but on the video front, 1080p at 30fps is a low bar.

How I tested the L'Atitude 52°N

• I took the glasses on my week-long vacation to Santorini, and tested them for around 10 hours in the UK
• I tried all of its advertised software and hardware features
• I used its AI to help enrich my vacation. Well, I tried.

As these are travel-focused smart specs, what better way to test them than to hit the road and take them on vacation? On my trip to Santorini, I tried their travel-focused software features, including the AI tour guide, asking for restaurant recommendations and questions about the island’s history, weather, and the like.

Having recently reviewed the second-generation Meta Ray-bans, I used those specs, which we rate as the best overall smart glasses pick for most people, as my main comparison point, but I’ve also sampled a range of other models at trade shows and in our offices over the past few years.

I ran the L'Atitude app from my iPhone 17 Pro.

• First reviewed: August 2026

It’s back-to-school season, which means there are plenty of great deals to be had on everything tech related. But you don’t have to be going to school or college to get in on the action — in fact, there all sorts of ways to score a discount, whatever your situation.

Here, we’ve put together some of the best ways you can get free or heavily discounted software, whether or not you’re a student. Read on and you’ll see there are many ways to score a brilliant bargain that might take you by surprise.

Education discounts

(Image credit: Apple)

Many companies know that students tend to be strapped for cash, and they therefore try to tempt educational customers to make a purchase by steeply discounting the price — or waiving it altogether.

For example, you can snag free access to Microsoft 365 apps if you’re a student, while educational institutions get the same deal. This is limited to web-based versions of the apps, but it’s a good way to net yourself a solid set of free office apps with absolutely no cost involved.

If you’d rather have the desktop apps, students can get a 50% discount on Microsoft 365 with a valid education email address. You can also get one year of Microsoft 365 for free when you buy a qualifying PC desktop or laptop. Microsoft also throws in a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and an Xbox Wireless Controller for free.

Looking further afield, Amazon Prime offers discounted rates and sometimes markets extended free trials to students and young adults, while other apps and services with student discounts include Adobe Creative Cloud, Apple Music, Evernote, Headspace, Spotify and more.

So many companies run student discounts that if there’s an app you’re interested in, it’s always worth investigating whether your student status will get you money off.

Check your employer or job description

(Image credit: Unsplash / Jason Goodman)

Deals don’t end the moment you enter the workforce. In fact, some of the best money-off opportunities are reserved for those in full-time employment. The catch is that they often depend on the type of work you do, but there are still plenty of deals to be had.

If you want to look after your logins, you can get free access to both 1Password and Proton Pass if you’re a journalist. Proton’s entire suite of apps — including a VPN, office apps, encrypted cloud storage and an email service — are free for journalists, in fact. Similarly, VPN provider Windscribe offers cost-free access if you’re a reporter or if you work for a charity.

Microsoft gives a wide range of discounts to nonprofits, including on office apps, security software, AI tools, and more. The Google for Nonprofits program offers also free and discounted access to Google services for NGOs.

Even if you don’t work in these sectors, you could still be in line for money off. Plenty of companies have partnerships with prominent app developers and get discounts on their software, so be sure to ask your employer if they run a scheme like this.

Apps bundled with your device

(Image credit: Foxy burrow / Shutterstock / Microsoft)

You don’t always have to look far for free or cheap apps — they’re often bundled with your device’s operating system. Microsoft, Google and Apple all have free password managers, for instance. Apple’s is a standalone app while Microsoft’s and Google’s live in the Edge and Chrome web browsers, respectively, meaning they work cross-platform and can be used on competing operating systems.

While these password managers are excellent for managing your accounts, they might lack more advanced features compared to third-party options. Be sure to check if they do everything you need before picking one up.

There are other ways your operating system can help you out. Take Apple’s macOS, which comes with a range of top-class office apps, including Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Google, too, has its own series of very capable office apps that are based in the cloud.

If you use different devices that run on different operating systems — for example, you have a Windows PC but also an iPhone — make sure you check whether the apps that come with one operating system can be used on another. If not, you might need to find an alternative app that runs well cross-platform so that you can access your files on any device.

Totally free apps

(Image credit: Blackmagic Design)

Despite all these ways to get money off your favorite software, you shouldn’t overlook the fact that there are some excellent free apps out there that are and always have been toll-free. Sometimes, the best way to get free software is to simply take the free option.

Video editor DaVinci Resolve is used by professionals in the movie industry, yet offers a totally free version that is incredibly capable. LibreOffice is a solid Microsoft Office alternative that requires no payment and can go toe-to-toe with Microsoft’s best. VLC can play almost any video format under the sun without ever asking for your cash. And there are many more out there.

Just be aware that many free apps are limited in some way compared to paid-for alternatives. A frequent practice is to lock more advanced features or higher limits behind a paywall, meaning you get a somewhat stunted experience if you don’t pay. Or you might get a free trial of a premium app that times out after a certain number of days or weeks.

There are other considerations. Be careful when using free apps that handle sensitive data. Some (but not all) free VPNs have been found to steal user data, for example, which undermines their privacy claims.

But that doesn’t mean you should forget about free software entirely. As apps like DaVinci Resolve and LibreOffice show, paying is not a requirement to getting a great app on your device.

• More details on these rumored AirPods have emerged
• It seems they'll be capable of taking 1MP photos
• The earbuds may also be able to use environmental context

Rumors of Apple working on a pair of camera-equipped AirPods have been doing the rounds for years now, but it seems their arrival could now be close. A fresh leak has given us some more details of the specs to expect, as well.

As MacRumors reports, data hidden away in macOS suggests that these earbuds will be able to capture synchronized color images up to 1 megapixel in size. That backs up the idea that they'll primarily be for AI sensing and processing, rather than to snap photos of your vacation or kids.

The code also points to photo capture but not video capture, and there are mentions of context in the environment that are used by the AirPods: these potential contextual clues include nearby speech and sounds, and changes in the user's posture and head position.

There are also indications that these AirPods-with-eyes will have a capture light on them to show when the camera is active, and that all the necessary visual interpretation will be done on device — potentially assuaging privacy concerns around how they might be used.

Negative pushbackCamera AirPods Code Reveals Image Capture Resolution, Status Light, Person Detection, and More from r/apple

Of course none of these details are guaranteed to appear in the final product, which those in the know say will be making an appearance next year. Apple might decide to change certain aspects of the device's configuration, or cancel it altogether.

In recent months, we've seen a lot of conversations and consumer pushback around the covert recording that smart glasses are capable of, and Apple will know that it's going to have to work hard to avoid the same negative chatter in regards to these AirPods.

Going off one Reddit thread at least, users aren't sure about these extra capabilities, with one contributor saying "this is going to get AirPods banned from all workplaces". However, other commenters seem more positive about the possibilities here — while also insisting that Apple will have to put privacy protections like on-device processing in place.

The leaked video that we saw a few days ago shows the AirPods-with-cameras being used as a sort of visual bookmarking system, where users can ask to save an item like a book cover to reference again in the future.

Two schools of thought exist in the Call of Duty community. One praises the high-speed arcade action of Black Ops sub-series, sliding around corners on smaller maps while racking up incredible kill counts. The other craves the more considered pacing of the recent Modern Warfare games, where firefights are grittier and more immersive, in larger and more complex environments that reward tactical play more than speed and aggression.

With Modern Warfare 4, developer Infinity Ward is trying to marry both styles of play. “If you're too strict in one direction or the other, that's where it becomes a problem,” multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot explained in my visit to the studio’s Los Angeles HQ earlier this year. “We want it to feel really good for you, but also balanced.”

Pleasing both audiences is a task I would have thought impossible: surely the enjoyment of one is opposed to that of the other?

But, after nearly ten hours hands-on with the ongoing Modern Warfare 4 beta, I think the team might have really pulled it off. That, combined with cutting-edge graphics and a plethora of new mechanical Innovations, has me confident we’re on track for a generational Call of Duty game — maybe even the best in the series so far.

Pleasing both campsYou can rapidly slide around the battlefield...Activision... but taking things slow is also effective.Activision

The first thing any returning Call of Duty player will notice dropping into Modern Warfare 4 is that it’s a very fast and fluid game.

Tactical sprint, the option to double-tap the sprint button to enter a faster stride, is back on by default, and it feels smoother than ever before. Rather than lasting for a fixed duration, your character’s speed gradually decreases as you go to reflect their tiredness — removing that stop-start feeling that made Modern Warfare II’s pacing so bitty.

The overall movement speed is pretty rapid, helping you traverse maps quickly and minimizing downtime between combat encounters. Going long stretches without coming across other players was a real issue in some of the bigger 6v6 maps of previous entries (MWII’s infamously dull Valderas Museum immediately springs to mind) and, while many of the maps available in this beta are quite small, I’m optimistic that it won’t be such a problem this time around.

Overhauled ballistic simulation means the guns in MW4 are more realistic than ever before. Rather than a slapdash bloom calculation, bullet trajectory is authentically calculated based on the actual position of your weapon in the virtual world. It sounds like a minor change, but you can really feel the difference. Hip-firing your guns is genuinely viable now: if your barrel is pointed towards the enemy on your screen, your shot will hit.

(Image credit: Activision)

Most guns take a fair chunk of time to aim, so this lets you play more aggressively no matter your chosen weapon type.

Try to take an objective hip-firing a slow-to-aim weapon in MWII, and you’ll end up dead with your entire magazine buried in the nearest wall. In MW4, you actually stand a chance, which stops matches from reaching a gridlock where everyone sticks to cover aiming down their own little sightlines.

It balances out the faster movement perfectly as well. I’ve already encountered players sliding around corners to try to gain an advantage as you can in a similarly snappy Black Ops game and dispatched them effortlessly with a hip-fired shot.

The Zip Gun, an all-new item that replaces the grenade in your lethal slot, is specifically geared towards this kind of situation. It’s a 3D-printed pistol that automatically unloads its entire clip in a quick burst when drawn, giving you a vital last-ditch line of defense if you’re caught mid-reload by an enemy player getting in your face.

You can still win plenty of fights by being fast, don’t get me wrong, and it feels great to do so, but it’s not the one-size-fits-all winning strategy that it is in, say,Black Ops 7.

Leaps and bounds

Guarding sightlines is still an effective strategy. (Image credit: Activision)

But what about those who still prefer to lock down specific zones or slowly advance towards objectives? They’re well catered to with a range of new tools to try. The razor wire field upgrade, for example, is a little mine that deploys a massive coil of barbed wire that slows enemies while draining their health so you can place it in doorways or at keychoke points for effective area denial.

Given all the ways you can counter fast-movers, taking things slow and playing tactically never puts you at a disadvantage. In fact, it can often work in your favor, as the relatively quick TTK (time to kill) lets you shred anyone you manage to catch off guard by flanking.

Although as a die-hard Black Ops fan, I have to admit that sprinting everywhere with an SMG or shotgun is my personal preference, I’ve been experimenting with both styles of play in my matches so far and struggle to label one definitively superior. It’s a genuinely impressive feat for Infinity Ward to have pulled off this tricky balance — doubly so given this is still just a beta and you would expect at least a few teething issues.

The mechanics are nailed down, then, and everything else about MW4 points to an experience that’s equally polished across the board. The maps available to try are well-designed and include a good mix of global locations, all rendered with a stunning level of detail and elevated by plenty of artistic flair, with special details like animated round intros and floating logos to help them all feel distinct.

The sleek user interface seems inspired by classic Call of Duty titles.ActivisionModern Warfare 4 also features a new A gunsmith to recommend weapon builds.Activision

The randomized Kill Block, with a layout split into three randomized blocks, is a surprising highlight too. Going in, I thought it would be a bit of a gimmick. It’s now become one of my favorite maps thanks to just how varied it is.

The presentation remains extremely strong even outside the matches themselves. That clunky Netflix-style user interface from recent games is gone, replaced with a much sleeker side-bar design, and that boring lobby animation (the one that had your hero wandering around an almost completely blank void) has finally been binned in favor of operator-specific sequences that convey so much more character.

That’s all without getting into the gritty campaign (one great level is available to sample as part of the beta offering) or the promising DMZ extraction shooter mode that will be available at launch. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is on track to be a major hit when it launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 on October 23.

• EcoFlow has announced new home batteries in the UK
• The Stream units can hook up to a variety of solar configurations
• Early bird prices are now available if you preorder

Portable power specialist EcoFlow has launched its next-generation Stream Series of home batteries in the UK, meaning that users can keep more of the solar energy they're generating — though the battery still needs to be installed by a qualified electrician.

The 5kWh home battery is rated to support up to 5,000W of solar input, and 3,000W of electricity output. That's enough to run appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, and if you need more energy storage, you can add extra units in as needed.

Despite those power ratings, the Stream home batteries are compact: they weigh just 45 kilograms (under 100 pounds), and are the size of an airplane cabin bag. That makes them easy to position in garages, utility rooms, or anywhere else.

"The transition to smarter home energy shouldn't be reserved for early adopters," said EcoFlow's Justin Tilley. "Homeowners want to get more from their solar investment, but they also want technology that's simple to understand, easy to integrate into their home and built to grow with them."

Specs and pricing

The batteries are big enough to power appliances (Image credit: EcoFlow)

With plug-in solar kits legally available in the UK from August 27, we're on the cusp of a home energy revolution in the country.

But the current downside of plug-in solar is that, without a battery installed, you'll lose any electricity you don't immediately use. The EcoFlow Stream series solves that problem, even if the installation isn't as plug-and-play as the panels are — although there are hopes that plug-in batteries could get the legal green light next.

Some specs of note from these batteries: they have a 15-year lifespan, are good for 10,000 charging cycles, offer an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance (so they're pretty weatherproof), and come with a 10-year warranty.

The batteries can be controlled by a companion app that gives you a full set of management and diagnostic tools, and they work as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units as well, taking over if the power grid electricity gets cut.

You can preorder a EcoFlow Stream home battery today from the EcoFlow website, with early bird prices starting at £1,499. Those discounted prices will last until October 7, when the units are expected to start shipping.